Summary Report - 4th Quarter, 2001
The Office of Natural Gas & Petroleum Import & Export Activities prepares quarterly reports showing natural gas import and export activity. Companies are required, as a condition of their authorizations, to file quarterly reports. This report is for the fourth quarter of 2001 (October through December).
Attachment A shows the percentage of takes to maximum firm contract levels and the weighted average per unit price for each of the long-term importers during the 5 most recent quarters.
Attachment B shows volumes and prices of gas purchased by long-term importers and exporters during the past 12 months.
Attachment C shows volume and price data for gas imported on a short-term/spot market basis.
Attachment D shows the gas exported on a short-term/spot market basis to Canada and Mexico.
Fourth Quarter Highlights: Changes in activity compared to the fourth quarter of 2000.
Canadian Imports
LNG Imports
Mexican Imports
Total Imports
Canadian Exports
Mexican Exports
Japanese Exports
Total Exports |
897.3 Bcf
32.8 Bcf
3.0 Bcf
933.1 Bcf
47.0 Bcf
42.3 Bcf
18.8 Bcf
108.1 Bcf |
down 6%
down 49%
down 55%
down 9%
up 72%
up 61%
same
up 49% |
Puerto Rican Imports |
6.2 Bcf |
up 9% |
The Puerto Rican imports are shown in the tables above and on the next page, and in Attachment B-1. These imports are not reflected in any of the totals found on this page, as the summaries are only for trade pertaining to the continental U.S.
During the fourth quarter, 5 importers of LNG (CMS Marketing; Distrigas Corp.; Duke Energy LNG; El Paso Global Gas (Cayman) Co.; and Tractebel LNG) brought in 13 cargoes from 2 countries (Algeria and Trinidad), totaling 32.8 Bcf. This compares to 28 cargoes and 64.6 Bcf in the fourth quarter of 2000, and 27 cargoes and 66 Bcf last quarter.
Fourth Quarter Data: Comparing fourth quarter 2001 to fourth quarter 2000 data, total imports were down 9 percent while total exports were up by 49 percent. Specifically, natural gas imports under all long-term contracts totaled 233.0 Bcf, compared to 361.1 Bcf in the fourth quarter 2000. Long-term Canadian imports decreased 37.5 percent (208.9 v. 334.4 Bcf). The average price of this gas was $2.84 per MMBtu, which is 25 cents lower than the preceding quarter and $2.28 or 45 percent lower than the fourth quarter 2000. Long-term LNG imports decreased 11 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2000 (24.1 v. 27.2 Bcf). Distrigas imported 14.5 Bcf from Trinidad at an average price of $2.80 per MMBtu, and 2.8 Bcf from Algeria at $2.73. Duke imported 6.8 Bcf from Algeria at $2.07 per MMBtu.
During the fourth quarter, 100 companies used short-term authorizations to import 700.1 Bcf, which is a 5 percent increase over the fourth quarter 2000 (666.0 Bcf). Of this total, 688.4 Bcf was imported from Canada at an average price of $2.43 per MMBtu, compared to 621.9 Bcf at $6.25 in the fourth quarter 2000, and 748.1 Bcf at $2.84 in the previous quarter. Imports from Mexico totaled 3.0 Bcf at $2.42 per MMBtu this quarter, compared to 6.6 Bcf at $7.56 in the fourth quarter 2000 and none last quarter. Short-term LNG imports totaled 8.7 Bcf for the quarter, compared to 51.3 Bcf last quarter and 37.4 Bcf in the fourth quarter 2000. CMS imported 1.4 Bcf of LNG from Trinidad at $1.85. El Paso (Global) imported 2.6 Bcf from Trinidad at $1.83. Distrigas imported 1.4 Bcf from Trinidad at $3.60. Tractebel imported 2.6 Bcf from Trinidad at $2.27. Duke imported 0.7 Bcf from Algeria at $2.06.
Short-term imports from Canada by point of entry:
Point of Entry |
% of Imports |
Wt. Avg. $ |
Eastport, ID
Sherwood, ND
Port of Morgan, MT
Sumas, WA
Noyes, MN
Niagara Falls, NY
Calais, ME
Grand Island, NY
Waddington, NY
Other |
24%
21%
19%
10%
9%
5%
4%
4%
2%
2% |
$2.38
$2.27
$2.26
$2.79
$2.33
$2.94
$2.47
$2.71
$2.71
$2.87 |
In addition, 17 short-term export authorizations were used to export 89.3 Bcf. Twelve companies exported 47.0 Bcf to Canada at an average price of $2.59 per MMBtu; 5 companies exported 42.3 Bcf to Mexico at $2.62; and 18.8 Bcf of LNG was exported to Japan at $4.30 (delivered).
2001 Highlights: Comparing 2001 with 2000, total gas imports increased 6 percent (4,011.1 v. 3,783.5 Bcf) and total gas exports increased 47 percent (363.7 v. 247.4 Bcf). Canadian imports increased 6.1 percent (3,762.6 v. 3,545.9 Bcf); Mexican imports decreased 11.2 percent (10.3 v. 11.6 Bcf); and LNG imports increased 5.4 percent (238.1 v. 226.0 Bcf). Exports to Canada increased 106 percent (157.5 v. 76.3 Bcf) and exports to Mexico increased 33 percent (140.4 v. 105.5 Bcf). LNG exports to Japan remained nearly constant (65.8 v. 65.6 Bcf).
Any questions or comments about this report should be directed to Yvonne Caudillo at (202) 586-4587 or by E-mail at yvonne.caudillo@hq.doe.gov.
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